Deke Bellavia

Deke: Saints LB Pat Swilling likes the Saints to win

by Deke Bellavia,posted Jan 9 2014 9:51PM

Just two days before the biggest game of the year for the New Orleans Saints, I had the pleasure of visiting with the great Pat Swilling. Pat was our special guest on the Saints Players Show, where Pat and I talked about the Saints game against Seattle, his glory days in a Black and Gold uniform, and of course, his relationship with the greatest set of linebackers to ever grace the field in the famed 'Dome Patrol.

Click to listen to the entire interview:

“You know it’s funny. When the Saints win I seem to always have a great week. The fans make things so fun. I think we have the best fans in the world, and trust me, the players are grateful for the fans support.”

The 1991 NFL Defensive MVP showed up in a Saints jacket, sat right down and began to dissect the Saints and Seahawks as if he were suiting up this weekend with the team. “Man, Deke, I miss the game. I miss playing, I miss the friendships I had with many players and just being able to go out and play each week is something is greatly miss.” I started things off by asking Pat to give a few words on each of the great linebackers he went into battle with each Sunday.

On Rickey Jackson: “The best player to ever play the game. I’m talking about pure toughness in Rickey Jackson. Rickey Jackson was someone you wanted with you if you were in a foxhole somewhere. Rickey played just a few days after being in a serious car wreck. That was Rickey. One of the best pure football players to ever play the game.”

On Vaughn Johnson: “Not only my friend but one of the toughest, grittiest inside linebackers to ever play the game. He could run, he could hit. Just ask Roger Craig. Every time I see Roger Craig he looks at me and smiles and says I can’t believe how hard that guy (Vaughn Johnson) hit me.”

On the late great Sam Mills: “Coach Mills. That’s how we felt about Sam. He was our coach. Sam was a great football player, he was strong as an ox and he knew everything about the game. He knew every tendency on every player on every team. I can still remember hearing Sam call me and tell me what play the other team was about to run. Sam was a student of the game, but he was our coach on the field.”

Pat was more than optimistic about the Saints chances this weekend against Seattle. Pat told me he thinks that the Saints will play much better and he really likes the way the Saints are playing right now. Can the Saints pull off the upset this week at Seattle? #56 thinks so! “I think the Saints have a great opportunity to win this game. I’ve been hearing what the odds makers are saying and the national media, but I think the Saints are going to play well.”

So why does Pat think the Saints can win? “We are playing good defense. When you are on the road you have to play great defense. If the Saints don’t play great defense they won’t win.” Pat said that the Saints offense could aid the Black and Gold defense by having some long time-consuming drives that would keep Seahawks QB Russell Wilson off the field.

“He’s (Russell Wilson) a great player. And the longer he is off the field the better it is.” Swilling was impressed with the Saints rushing attack last week and he says rushing the football against Seattle is vital for the Saints also.

So what will it be Mr. MVP? “I’ll say the Saints win it 27-24.”

So there you have it, Who Dat Nation. And as far as his life after football, “I’ve got a real estate company and I enjoy coaching basketball,” Swilling said. Swilling resides in New Orleans. #56 finished his great career with 107.5 career sacks.

had season tickets back then.great interview,only can afford to watch my boys on tv these days.id love to sit down with pat,ricky,and bobby and pic there brains.that was some good times..........George........JUST IN CASE.......pertuitg@yahoo.com

01/10/2014 3:06PM

No 1 defense

saints did all right against the no 26 ranked defense, well get ready for the number no 1 in the nfl. forecast calls for wind and rain. gl